Loose leaf book



Feb. 23, 1937. J, SCHADE 2,071,767

LOOSE LEAF BOOK Filed June 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jo/wvScHADE BY M9M ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937. v JSCHADE 2,071,767

LOOSE LEAF BOOK Filed June 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JoH/v60/441215 ATTORNEYS Iii Patented Feb. 23, 1937 LOOSE LEAF BooK JohnSchade, Holyoke, Mass, assignor to National Blank Book Company, Holyoke,Mass., a cor poration of Massachusetts Application June 15, 1934, SerialNo. 730,684

4 Claims.

This invention isan improvement in loose leaf books. It has some of thefeatures of a ring type binder combined with some of the features of aprong type binder. The combination is made i with the principal purposeof getting an improved book having a new and useful mode of operation.The structural features and their advantages will be clear as thedisclosure is made.

I will first disclose the new mode of operation by reference todiagrammatic drawings and then disclose my preferred specific structureand also some variations in detail.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the book parts in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a like view of the parts as the book covers reach apredetermined limit in their opening movement when further movementrequires the back of the book to break and turn inwardly on its centralhinge;

Fig. 3 is a like view of the parts as the book reaches open or readingposition with the back part turned inwardly Fig. 4 is a like view of theparts as the book reaches the position for filler changing position;

Fig.5 is a like view of the parts as the book covers reach apredetermined limit in their closing movement from open position afterwhich further movement requires the back part to turn outwardly from itsreading position;

Figs. 1 to 5 are diagrammatic views of the book parts to illustratedifferent positions in the new mode ofoperation.

Referring to Fig.1, indicating the book in" closed position, its partsare represented by a back made of stiff hinge plates 2 and 3 connectedat hinge eye I, stiff covers 4 and 5 hinged at eyes 6 and i, curvedmetal prongs 8 and 9 designed to enter the same holes from oppositesides in punched filler sheets. Pairs of these prongs are spaced alongthe back of the book, Their curves are made with I as a center. Theirlength and overlap are indicated at 8' and 9. Their attached ends arecarried rigidly by plates 2 and 3. ,The hinges 6 and Tare made in the Tihinge eyes, as will be described, to permit only a limited turningmovement of covers 4 and 5 relative to-adjacent back plates 2 and 3. The

and 2-. Itspurpose will be described.

When the book is completely closed (assuming it to be filled withpunched sheets on prongs 8 and 9) its parts have the position of Fig.l.'

To open the book, covers 4 and 5 first move on limited hinges 6 and 1 tothe position of Fig. 2. This leans part of the filling on cover 4 andpart on cover 5. As previously stated, covers 4 and 5 cannot openfurther on hinges 6 and l; the latter binding in the position of Fig. 2to prevent such further opening on these hinges.

In this position prongs 8 and 9 have not moved (from their positions ofFig. 1) as they are.

fastened to back plates 2 and 3. The latter have not moved. But in theopening movement from Fig. 2 to Fig.- 3, cover 5 and prongs 9 swing as aunit with weight and leverage to turn back plate 3 inwardly of the book.Likewise, cover 4 and prongs 8 acting as a unit turn back plate 2inwardly of the book. The back of the book must then break inwardly fromthe position of Fig.- 2 to the position of Fig. 3. Otherwise stiffcovers 4 and 5 could not fully open as their hinges 6 and 1 are arrangedto prevent'opening further than in Fig. 2 unless back parts 2 and 3 turnon hinge or axis l. The movement of parts 2 and 3 lifts axis l toposition as shown in Fig. 3.

The position of the book in Fig. 3 is a normal reading position with thebook covers in substantially the same plane.

As the book parts are moved to reading position prongs 8 and 9 are movedwith back parts 2 and 3. The prongs are curved with axis I as a center.Theirsuspended ends are overlapped and their other ends are fastenedrigidly to the outer edges of back plates'Z and 3. So it is necessaryfor the prongs to swing with the parts from their position of Fig. 2(which is the same prong position as Fig. 1) to their position of Fig.3. By contrasting these two prong positions, it will be seen that thefirst one, Fig. 2, is a curved prong position with the prongs overlappedover almost their whole length and rather close to the back, to savespace. The first prong position is a characteristic of prong binderbooks. The second position of the prongs 8 and 9,. Fig. 3, shows themalmost in the form of a complete and, closed ring- This second prongposition gives the prong arrangement a characteristic of a ring binderbook. Their ends 8' and 9' are still overlapped enough to close the ringform in reading position. They each form one-half of what a whole ringwould form and together in such position give the equivalent of a wholering of a ring book binder.

The advantage is that in closed position my book has prong type binderadvantages and in open position ring type binder advantages. Both areobtained by the new structure and mode of operation, as will now beunderstood by one skilled in the art.

With a little care in handling the book, with the mode of operationdescribed one could open it to read and not have the parts move farenough to open the prongs as far as that shown in Fig. 4. But I preferto supply a latch, which will be described, to normally hold themovement of the parts between the positions of Figs. 1 and 3.

To change filler sheets my book parts are moved from the position ofFig. 3 to that of Fig. 4. It will be clear that this movement ispermitted with the covers in the same plane by merely pushing the coverstoward one another in such plane. The back plates 2 and 3 will then turnrelatively to the covers through the limited movement permitted onhinges 6 and I. It is the same small movement on these hinges as beforementioned with respect to the differences in relative position betweencovers and back plates in Figs. 1 and 2. The arrangement makes itunnecessary, in changing the filler, to bend the covers beyond wide openreading position, which of course could be done (and in fact is done ifthe book is held in one hand to change sheets with the other hand), tobring prongs 8 and 9 out of overlapping position.

When the book is closed from reading position of Fig. 3, the covers 4and 5 first lift (and carry the sheets resting on them) between thepositions of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5. They move through the small limitpermitted by hinges 6 and 1 before starting to move plates 2 and 3 andprongs 8 and 9. This takes up the slack between the prongs and theirpunched holes and leans the filler sheet packs against the prongs. Thenfrom each side, the cover, its sheet pack, its adjacent back plate, andits attached prongs, all move as a unit up to the position of Fig. 2.This kind of assembled unit movement on each side of the hinge I, isparticularly important because it takes place against gravity. It takesplace without relative movement between the prongs and the sheets on theprongs. The lifting movement of the cover does not cramp the sheets onthe prongs. It avoids tear and wear on the sheets, particularly at theholes. And it makes the closing of even very heavy and thick bookfillers a neat operation. The final closing movement is from Fig; 2 toFig. 1, a very small movement.

The features in my arrangement and mode of operation have been describedwith particular reference to what I desire in large heavy loose leafbooks. There are some features in the arrangement that can be easilydispensed with in lighter and smaller capacity books, as I will pointout later.

I will now describe my preferred structure whose mode of operation isthe same as that already described in the diagrammatic views.

Fig. 6 is an end view of my book with contents, drawn on a reduced scalefrom a finished book having prongs giving the equivalent of two and ahalf inch ring binder capacity;

Fig. 7 is a side View of the same book;

Fig. 8 is a section at 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing the connection of thecovers with the book back;

Fig. 9 is a section at 9-9 of Fig. '7 showing the way the prongs arefastened to the back plate;

Fig. 10 is a detail view showing one back plate with one of the latchparts (the movable one);

Fig. 11 is a like view showing the other back plate with its latch part(the stationary one) Fig. 12 is a detail top view of portions of thelatch parts in latched position and when the book is in the position ofFig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a like view with parts in unlatched position and the bookmoving towards the position of Fig. 4 from that of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a detail view showing a modified form of cover and backconnection.

In constructing my preferred form I desire to give a simple appearanceto the book and to save space, so the book in the users hands will havea simple and compact appearance. I accomplish this object, as well asthe mechanical operation 'of the book, in one way by the particulararrangement of parts now to be described.

Each back plate 2 and 3 has its outer edge bent upwardly into ahook-shaped flange or flat sided hinge eye l6 and I1, see Fig. 8. I cutslots 20 in the top outer edge of these flanges to receive spacedtongues 2| of flat metal hinge strips 22. These tongues 2| are bentinwardly so that they contact the under side of their cooperating flangewhen strips 22 turn from vertical to a small cutwardly inclined angle(the position of Fig. 2). (Tongues 2! could be made straight and thenabut the vertical wall of the flange as a stop.) The covers 4 and 5 arestiff and they are riveted to the-metal strips 22 so that when thelatter are vertical the squared off bottom edges of the stiff coverswill rest flat (they are better shown in the drawings, Fig. 8, slightlyseparated) on top of the hinge eyes or flanges I6 and I1. These coveredges prevent the inward turning of the hinge strips 22. Their outwardturning is limited to the angle a, see Fig. 2, by tongues 21 hittingagainst the under side of flanges l6 and H, see Fig. 8. This is one wayto provide for the limited and small hinge movement between covers 4 and5 and back plates 2 and 3, to which I referred in describing thediagrammatic views and the mode of operation.

This particular way of constructing the outer hinges has an advantage instiffening the outer edges of the back plates 2 and 3, so as to make thelatter of thinner sheet metal than otherwise could be done. The stiffcover board indicated acts as one stop (the inward one) for the limitedhinge movement. The arrangement enables me to locate the outer face ofeach cover in substantially the same plane as the outer side of thehinge and the edge of the back plate, see Fig. 9. Thus, the outer coverface of the book can be covered by a single decorative strip 30 lyingquite smooth all over the outside area and passing around to cover theadjacent back plate, without a break. This decorative strip, made ofleather or flexible material, will bend back and forth at the slightangle necessary for the limited hinge movement adjacent the cornerswithout making an appreciable joint. Fig. 8 shows all the cover materialand the side hinges located to save space, as the space result issubstantially the same as if the covers went straight down to the planeof the back plates. The space used for the side hinges is no more thanallowed by the thickness of the cover material. And the constructionshown is not only very strong but also has the advantage of hiding theside hinges.

Referring to Fig. 9, each prong 8 and 9 has its inner end riveted,welded, brazed, or otherwise permanently fastened to its adjacent backplate. Each prong is supported by passing nearly vertically from theback plate through a slot in the side hinge eye. The edges 3| of thisslot prevent side strains from tipping the prong over to strain thejoint at the back plate. So I can make'the back plate'of thinner metalthan if it alone had to support the prong fastening joint. As each prongrises abovethe hinge eye it lies in a slot 32 cut out of the covermaterial. (In the book size shown there are three pairs of prongs.) Themetal hinge strip 22 underlies this slot outwardly of each prong. And sovery strong pressure of the covers against the sides of the prongs inwhatever position they are, will not bulge the covers at adjacent pointson the outside. This bulging of covers by prong or ring pressure is anobjection in many types of ring books. By locating the prong joint andthat part of the adjacent prong curve within the space desirable for thethickness of the cover material and its underlying hinge construction, Isave space in the book, being able to make the book thinner for a givencapacity than would otherwise be the, case. This will be clear fromFigs. 8 and 9 and a comparison with the modification of Fig. 14.

It should be noted that the parts described generally have more than onefunction. The cover arrangement acts as one stop for the hinge, Fig. 8.The top hinge plate 22 acts as a protector against prong pressurebulging of cover material. Each bottom hinge part I6 and I1, acts tobrace its back plate against bending and to support its row of prongsagainst tipping sidewise. And all these parts are built in with a realeconomy with respect to the space used and so as to hide the limitedhinge at each corner where the covers join the back. The arrangementgives the book good mechanical structure and a simple, smoothappearance.-

When space and appearance are not so much desired I can use the modifiedconstruction of Fig. 14.. In this there are flexible strips 4|, asleather, bound to the covers and clamped between the legs of anupstanding double flange 42 at the edge of the adjacent back plate. Eachcover has spaced studs 43 riveted to it and each stud passes through aslot 44 in the flange and a head on the stud keeps flange and covertogether while allowing a small lost motion between the distance thecover needs to move (the limited hinge movement) with respect to itsadjacent back flange plate. The studs 43 tip and engage the ends oftheir slots 44 as the cover goes through the limited hinge movement.Except for this movement the covers and their adjacent back plates mustmove together and on the hinge line I in the middle line of the bookback, exactly as described in the diagrammatic views.

Referring to Fig. 10, the movable latch part is shown. It is mountedcentrally of its back plate 3. It is a flat U-shaped plate 50, pivotedat the bottom 5| for a limited movement determined by slot 52 and thestationary pin 53. A spring 54 tends to hold the movable part in theposition shown. It is moved by finger pressure on the tab 55 at the topand at one side. The unlatching movement is against the spring pressure.

Referring to Fig. 11, the stationary latch part 55 is mounted and fixedon the other back plate 2 in position to cooperate with part 50. Thelatch parts are shown in Figs. 8 and 14 in their cooperating position,and not in all views where they might be seen. When the back plates bendback to the position of Fig. 3, the latch parts are tipped and slantedso they are diflicult to show completely in such position. But theirco-- operation can be understood from the detail views Figs. 12 and 13and Figs. 8 and 14.

In Fig. 12 the top of the latch parts are shown in latching position aswhen the book is opened from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 3.In the former position the latch parts are indicated in Fig. 14, whileFig. 12 indicates them for the book position of Fig. 3. When the ,bookopens, as in Fig. 3, the latch parts at the top of parts 50 and 60contact as in Fig. 12. The top ledge 51 of fiat plate 50 contacts withthe overlapped top ledge BI of fiat plate 60. These ledges at theiroverlapped edges in this position are in the same plane. So theabutments provided by the contact of the overlapped edges preventfurther opening movement of plates 53 and 63. The latter are fastened toback plates 2 and 3 so when they turn on hinge I to the position of Fig.3 the latch abutments contact (Fig. 12) and prevent further openingmovement.

When it is desired to change filler sheets the forefinger and thumb ofone hand can straddle the latch and press finger pieces 55 and 55 closeenough together (which is permitted by pivot BI, Fig. 10) for ledges 51and GI to come out of the overlapping contact, parallel with hinge I,

shown in Fig. 12 and move to that of Fig. 13, at right angles to hingeI. In the latter figure it is seen that plates 50 and permit turningwith hinge I as plates 50 and 60 fold together for the book to take theposition of Fig. 4.

The projections 62 and 58 will hold the latch parts out of latchingposition for the movement necessary for the back plates and latch platesto fold together. Spring 54 (Fig. 10) tends to hold the latch parts inthe position of Fig. 13, while the folding up takes place. Fig. 13 showsthe position of the latch parts started from latched position to theopened position of the book for changing sheets, as in Fig. 4, but thelatch parts are not at the end of such movement.

After the book covers and back plates are moved back from the positionof Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 3 the latch parts will spring back to theirlatched position of Fig. 12. This is their position when the book iswide open for reading as in Fig. 3. From this position the prongs 8 and9 cannot again open from overlapped position until the latch is againopened by the users fingers.

The projections 58 and 62 (Fig. 12) enter holes I3 and I2 respectivelyin back plates 2 and 3, so the latch parts can flatten out as indicatedin Fig. 8 when the book is closed and yet have bearing length desired inthe latch operation. When the book is closed it is desired to keep thehinge I oif the surface on which the book may rest and so the backplates 2 and 3 make a slight inward angle when the book reaches thecompletely closed position. This is slightly exaggerated in themodification of Fig. 14. It shows that metal hinge I will normally bekept out of desk or table top contact.

The latch is preferably located in the middle portion of the book backon the inside to better take the strain; its finger pieces 55 and 56underlie the paper on prongs 8 and 9. When they rise up from prong toring form the finger pieces rise up with and immediately adjacent to thehinge. In this position it is a simple matter to support the open bookon one hand and manipulate the latch and change sheets with the otherhand. This is an improved feature of my book Even with a heavy book onecan change filler sheets and manipulate the loose leaf structure withgreater ease than customary types of loose leaf structure. For example,the ordinary ring book requires opening of the ring structure by usingboth hands. My improved book can merely rest on one hand; a finger touchof the latch with the other hand permits the prongs to open for changingsheets; and the hand which opened. the latch is free to change sheetswhile the book is still held by the other hand. It is only necessary tostart the closing operation to have the latch reengage- The weight ofthe book parts will open it if permitted to act and the relatching isabout as simple as the release.

In all modifications the advantages of a new mode of operation aresecured and the books can be manipulated with improved convenience whilesaving space and avoiding structural complications.

I could go on and compare the improved type of book with ring books andprong books of the customary types, but as the invention has been fullydisclosed this comparison will be proper at a later time in theprosecution or protection of the invention. I

What I claim is:

1. A loose leaf book comprising a back hinged in the center line andadapted to bend backwardly on itself, curved prongs extending throughslightly less than above the back and a tached to opposite side edges ofthe'back in pairs, the prongs of each pair adapted to enter the sameholes from opposite sides in a loose leaf filler and when the book isclosed overlap substantially their entire length, covers hinged adjacentthe side edges of said back with a small and limited movement at theirhinge joints and arranged so that when each cover is opened it movesonly a short distance independently of the back and then carries itsadjacent back part so as to bend backwardly with the other back partuntil the book is wide open for reading, said prongs on the back partsbeing only slightly overlapped when the back parts are in book readingposition. a

2. A loose leaf book comprising a back having a hinge joint along itscenter line and stiff hinge plates extending from each side of the hingejoint to the side edges of the back, prongs fastened to said plates attheir side edges, those on one edge adapted to enter the same holes of aloose leaf filler from opposite sides to prongs on the other edge, saidprongs curving over the book back with a radius substantially equal tothe width of a hinge plate and with the prongs long enough to extendinto overlapping relation with opposite prongs at all times except whenthe hinge plates are folded substantially one against the other, stiffbook covers one hinged at each back plate edge, a joint for the hingedconnection to limit the relative movement between the covers and theback plates between a right angle relation and enough more than a rightangle relation for the covers to lie in the same plane when the backplates are folded together enough to move the prongs into only slightlyoverlapped relation all for the purpose described.

3. A loose leaf book comprising substantially identical halves hingedtogether along the center line of the book back, each half made of ahinge plate for the back part, a stiff cover and curved prongs fastenedat the edge of the plate near the cover and extending about twice thewidth of the plate, a limited hinge joining the cover and its back part,so as to require the cover and its back part to move together andprevent them from ever lying in substantially the same plane, wherebythe book halves must move on their common central hinge to fold the bookback inwardly and outwardly when the covers are moved respectively toopen and closed position.

4. A loose leaf book comprising a two-part centrally hinged backportion, loose leaf filler retaining members on the back portionoperable into cliiferent positions by hinged movements of the backportion, side hinges along the outer edges of the back portion, coverseach mounted on top of and in the same plane as the adjacent side hinge,the outer surface of the covers, hinges and back portions being smoothand an unbroken covering, strip smoothly attached over such surfaces oneach side of the center line of the back portion so as to hide the sidehinges, said side hinges being limited in their movements so as torequire the covers to move with their adjacent back parts during themajor opening and closing movements of the book.

JOHN SCHADE.

